Overview

Micro TESE (Microscopic Testicular Sperm Extraction) and TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration) are medical procedures used to retrieve sperm from the testicles of men who have fertility issues.

These techniques are often employed when a man has a very low sperm count, no sperm in his ejaculate (azoospermia), or other conditions that make it challenging to obtain viable sperm for assisted reproductive procedures such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

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TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration)

TESA involves the use of a thin needle to aspirate small tissue samples from the testicles. These tissue samples are then processed in a laboratory to extract the sperm cells present in the testicular tissue. TESA is a less invasive procedure compared to Micro TESE, but the sperm retrieval rate might be lower.

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Micro TESE (Microscopic Testicular Sperm Extraction)

Micro TESE is a more intricate procedure where a small incision is made in the testicular tissue, and a high-powered microscope is used to locate areas with active sperm production. These areas are then carefully dissected to extract live sperm. Micro TESE has a higher success rate of sperm retrieval compared to TESA, especially in cases where sperm production is limited.

Both Micro TESE and TESA provide options for men with sperm-related fertility challenges to have a chance at biological parenthood through assisted reproductive techniques. The retrieved sperm can be used for IVF or ICSI, where a single sperm is directly injected into an egg to facilitate fertilisation.